Preamble

The House met at Twelve Noon

PRAYERS

[Mr. SPEAKER in the Chair]

DEATH OF KING GEORGE VI

Messages of Condolence

Mr. Speaker: In addition to the messages of condolence which I read to the House yesterday, I have received the following telegrams from other countries expressing sympathy in the loss we have sustained in the death of His late Majesty:

To the Speaker of the House of Commons

I have the honour to communicate to you that the Senate of Peru in session today pays deep homage to His Majesty King George VI expressing profound sympathy for his passing away. Sincerely,

HECTOR BOZA,

President.

To the Speaker of the House of Commons

Before the grievous sorrow which afflicts the British Commonwealth of Nations, I feel obliged to express to you and through you to that noble community the sincere condolences of the Chamber of Deputies over which I have the honour to preside.

JUAN SMITMANS,

Vice-President of the Chamber of Deputies of Chile.

ERNESTO GOYCOOLEA,

Pro-Secretary.

To the Rt. Hon. Speaker of the House of Commons, London

We are deeply moved on the news of the sudden loss of His Majesty King George VI. On behalf of Indonesian Parliament please convey our most respectful and sincerest sympathy to Her Majesty the Queen, the Royal Family and the people of the United Kingdom

and Northern Ireland. May God Almighty strengthen the hearts of Her Majesty's subjects in facing this tragic loss.

SANTONA,

Speaker of Indonesian Parliament.

To the Speaker, House of Commons, Westminster

On behalf of myself and Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Sudan I send our most sincere and heartfelt condolences in the loss sustained by the British Commonwealth of Nations. His late Majesty's character and sense of duty commanded the admiration and respect of the Sudanese as of all the world, and His death will be mourned not only in His own Dominions, but in all countries where the ideal of democratic freedom is cherished.

MOHAMED SALEH SHANGEITI,

Speaker.

To the Speaker, House of Commons, London

Chamber of Deputies profoundly moved by the passing of your beloved Sovereign and sincerely participating in the deep mourning of the Peoples of the British Commonwealth, adjourned yesterday's session and after an appropriate Address of its President in memory of the late King George VI, kept one minute's silence. I have been entrusted by the Chamber to convey to the House of Commons its heartfelt condolences to which allow me to add my own feelings of deepest sympathy.

DIMITRI GONTIKAS,

President of the Chamber of Deputies of Greece.

To the Speaker of the House of Commons, London

On the occasion of the death of His Majesty King George VI I offer to your Excellency and the Honourable Members of the House of Commons the heartfelt condolence of the Members of the Federal Council of the Peoples Assembly of the FPR of Yugoslavia and my own.

VLADIMIR SIMIC,

President of the Federal Council.

To the Speaker, House of Commons, London

On behalf of the Members of the Assembly of the Peoples Representatives I beg to convey to you an expression of sincerest condolences and sympathy on the sad demise of His Majesty King George VI.

LIEUTENANT-GENERAL PHRA PRACHON PACHANUK,

President of the Assembly of Peoples

Representatives of Thailand.

Speaker of the House of Commons, London.

I have the honour to present to you and through you to the Government and to the people of the United Kingdom the heartfelt homage of the Chamber of Deputies of Peru at the lamentable passing away of His Majesty King George VI of England. Sincerely,

CLAUDIO FERNANDEZ CONCHA,

President of the Chamber of Deputies.

To the Most excellent Speaker of the House of Commons, London.

In the name of the National Assembly, I offer you our condolences at the demise of His Majesty King George VI.

ALBINO DOS REIS,

President of the Portuguese National Assembly, Lisbon.

To the Speaker of the House of Commons, London.

In the name of the Legislative Assembly of El Salvador, I would like to express to the most honourable House of Commons, that this Assembly, participating in the sorrow which has fallen on Great Britain by reason of the death of His Majesty King George VI, has decreed three days national mourning.

JOSE MARIA PERALTA SALAZAR,

President of the Legislative Assembly.

Mr. Speaker: Perhaps the House will think it right for me to send suitable replies to these messages.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear.

BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE

The Minister of Health (Mr. Harry Crookshank): It is proposed that the hour of meeting on Monday next should be 2 o'Clock.
My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister will bring a Gracious Message from Her Majesty the Queen respecting the death of His late Majesty. The House will then consider an Address in reply to Her Majesty, a Message to Her Majesty the Queen Mother, and to Her Majesty Queen Mary.
Arrangements are being made for Business to be completed so that the House may go to Westminster Hall to be present when the body of the late King arrives at about 4 o'Clock for the Lying-in-State.
After the Ceremony in Westminster Hall, the House will adjourn until Tuesday, 19th February.
The Business for that day and the rest of the week, which it may be convenient for me to give now, will be as follows:

TUESDAY, 19TH FEBRUARY—Committee and remaining stages of the Festival Pleasure Gardens Bill; the Merchant Shipping Bill, and of the Judicial Offices (Salaries, &c.) Bill;

Second Reading of the Income Tax Bill [Lords]; the Customs and Excise Bill, and of the Miners' Welfare Bill;

Consideration of Motions to approve the Reserve and Auxiliary Forces (Training) Act Extension Order; and the Additional Import Duties (Cotton Sacks) Order.

WEDNESDAY, 20TH FEBRUARY—Second Reading of the Agriculture (Fertilisers) Bill and Committee stage of the necessary Money Resolution till 7 p.m.

Consideration of Motions to approve the Agriculture (Special Directions) (Maximum Area of Pasture) Extension of Period Order, 1951, and a similar Order for Scotland.

Second Reading of the Export Guarantees Bill and Committee stage of the necessary Money Resolution.

Consideration of Motions to approve the Draft Pneumoconiosis and Byssinosis Benefit Scheme, and the Draft National Insurance (Industrial Injuries) (Colliery Workers Supplementary Scheme) Amendment Order.

THURSDAY, 21ST FEBRUARY—The Business will be announced later.

FRIDAY, 22ND FEBRUARY—Consideration of Private Members' Motions which will be balloted for on Tuesday, 19th February.

Mr. Speaker: It may be convenient for me now to inform the House that on Monday, after the speeches and proceedings on the Address to Her Majesty and other Motions, hon. Members who have not yet been sworn in will be able to take the Oath if time permits. I may then suspend the Sitting until it is time for me to lead the House in procession to Westminster Hall, where we should be in position by about a Quarter-to-Four. I will on Monday give the House further details of our procession.
I am asked to announce that there will be a Memorial Service held in St. Margaret's on Friday, 15th February, at Half-past Two o'Clock for Members of Parliament and their wives.
Resolved, "That this House do meet on Monday next at Two o'Clock."—[Mr. Crookshank.]

QUESTIONS TO MINISTERS

Sir Ian Fraser: May I ask the Leader of the House what will be the position regarding Questions?

Mr. Speaker: I take it that when the House meets again on 19th February Questions will be in order.

Sir I. Fraser: Will they be Questions for that day, or those which have been missed?

Mr. Speaker: I made a statement yesterday on the subject in which I said that Questions will not be automatically postponed to that later day, but if hon. Members give notice at the Table Office they can be postponed to the next available day.
Several other Members took and subscribed the Oath, or made and subscribed the Affirmation required by Law.

ADJOURNMENT

Resolved, "That this House do now adjourn."—[Mr. R. Thompson.]

Adjourned accordingly at Five Minutes to One o'Clock.